O edital lançado pela NAIA em parceria com a IFMSA Brazil ultrapassou 80 escolas médicas inscritas e se tornou o programa com o maior número d...

Youth in Global Health: IFMSA at 71st World Health Assembly and Youth PreWHA, 2018 By Ankit Raj Share on facebook Facebook Share on twitter Twitter Share on linkedin LinkedIn Citation Raj A. Youth in global health: IFMSA at 71st World Health Assembly and Youth PreWHA, 2018. Harvard Public Health Review. 2019;24 Youth in Global Health: […]

This article was exclusively written for The European Sting by Ms. Valéria Cerqueira Pinto, a medical student. She is affiliated with the International Federation of Medical Students Associations (IFMSA), cordial partner of The Sting. The opinions expressed in this piece belong strictly to the writer and do not necessarily reflect IFMSA’s view on the topic, nor The European Sting’s one. By: Valéria Cerqueira Pinto Abstract Climate change is a critical driver of food insecurity, disproportionately affecting women of reproductive age. This study analyzes how climate-related disruptions increase the risk of anemia through socio-environmental pathways. Evidence shows that reduced food access, poor dietary diversity, and structural inequalities contribute to nutritional deficiencies. Data from international organizations indicate that anemia remains highly prevalent and stagnant globally. Addressing this issue requires integrated strategies combining nutrition, gender-sensitives policies, and climate adaptation. Introduction Climate change affects food systems through extreme weather events, environmental degradation, and reduced agricultural productivity. These impacts increase food prices and limit access to nutritious foods, especially in vulnerable populations. Women aged 15–49 are particularly at risk due to increased nutritional demands. Anemia, especially iron-deficiency anemia, remains a major global health problem, affecting 30.7% of women worldwide and 35.5% of pregnant women. Climate...

This article was exclusively written for The European Sting by Ms. Sadia Khalid, a Scientist-Physician (MBBS, MD) at Tallinn University of Technologye. She is affiliated with the International Federation of Medical Students Associations (IFMSA), cordial partner of The Sting. The opinions expressed in this piece belong strictly to the writer and do not necessarily reflect IFMSA’s view on the topic, nor The European Sting’s one. Reproductive health is routinely discussed as a private matter: pregnancy, contraception, and childbirth. But in war, climate disaster, and political collapse, it becomes something else entirely. It becomes a measure of whether societies still recognise women and girls as fully human. Too often, it becomes the first need neglected and the last restored. Across conflicts and humanitarian emergencies, a pattern repeats. When bombs fall, floodwaters rise, or borders close, reproductive health services are treated as secondary to “more urgent” needs. Yet a woman in obstructed labour, a girl raped during displacement, or a survivor needing emergency contraception is not facing a side issue. She is facing an emergency. This is why reproductive health must be understood through the wider architecture of crisis. Climate change, war, and political turmoil do not produce separate crises. They interact...

This article was exclusively written for The European Sting by Ms. Sadia Khalid, a Scientist-Physician (MBBS, MD) at Tallinn University of Technologye. She is affiliated with the International Federation of Medical Students Associations (IFMSA), cordial partner of The Sting. The opinions expressed in this piece belong strictly to the writer and do not necessarily reflect IFMSA’s view on the topic, nor The European Sting’s one. For too long, climate change and war have been discussed as separate global crises. One is framed as an environmental emergency, the other as a political and security failure. But for millions of women and girls, especially those who are pregnant or of reproductive age, these crises meet in the most intimate place possible: the body. From rising heat and polluted air to forced displacement, destroyed hospitals, and reproductive coercion, both climate disruption and armed conflict are reshaping women’s health in ways that remain dangerously underappreciated. Maternal health, sexual and reproductive rights, and bodily autonomy are increasingly under pressure not only from failing systems, but also from the social and political forces that decide whose lives are protected and whose are treated as expendable. The evidence is growing. Climate change is no longer a distant...

This article was exclusively written for The European Sting by Ms. Mai AbouShloua, currently a fourth-year medical student in Arab Academy for Science, Technology & Maritime Transport (AASTMT). She is affiliated with the International Federation of Medical Students Associations (IFMSA), cordial partner of The Sting. The opinions expressed in this piece belong strictly to the writer and do not necessarily reflect IFMSA’s view on the topic, nor The European Sting’s one. Being in the 21st century, where urbanization and digitalization are taking over our lives, climate change has been continuously a pivotal global priority. However, here comes the question: are the measures done sufficient to combat its deleterious consequences? Apparently, the problem seems to affect both genders equally, which is sheerly untrue. Without any bias, women are the cornerstone of the society as they foster new generations by securing their basic life needs, including food, clean water source and a warm shelter. Drastic weather alternances, specifically in LMICs such as India and Bangladesh, disrupt the normal rhythm of their lives, risking their sexual and reproductive health. For example, floods or droughts or wildfires can cause them to migrate to areas, where healthcare facilities are not in proximity. Respectively, they lack...

This article was exclusively written for The European Sting by Ms. Lívia Maria, a medical student in Brazil with a strong academic interest in global health. She is affiliated with the International Federation of Medical Students Associations (IFMSA), cordial partner of The Sting. The opinions expressed in this piece belong strictly to the writer and do not necessarily reflect IFMSA’s view on the topic, nor The European Sting’s one. Climate change is no longer a distant environmental concern; it is a defining global health emergency. Yet, within this crisis, one of its most consequential dimensions remains persistently overlooked: its disproportionate impact on women’s health. This is not simply a matter of vulnerability but of structural invisibility, where biological susceptibility intersects with entrenched social and economic inequalities. Compelling evidence from global health research makes it clear that climate change is a profoundly gendered health crisis. Rising temperatures, for instance, are consistently associated with increased risks of preterm birth, low birth weight, and stillbirth. These outcomes reflect complex physiological responses, including maternal dehydration, placental dysfunction, and systemic inflammation. However, they also expose systemic failures, particularly in low-resource settings, where access to maternal care and adaptive infrastructure remains insufficient. Air pollution, driven by...

This article was exclusively written for The European Sting by Ms. Juliana Ribeiro, a fourth-year Brazilian medical student . She is affiliated with the International Federation of Medical Students Associations (IFMSA), cordial partner of The Sting. The opinions expressed in this piece belong strictly to the writer and do not necessarily reflect IFMSA’s view on the topic, nor The European Sting’s one. In 2024, the global average temperature reached the critical mark of 1.6°C above pre-industrial levels, temporarily exceeding the Paris Agreement limit and signaling a “red code” for the planet. This warming is not just a meteorological phenomenon; it acts as a potent risk multiplier for gender-based health disparities. Women face a disproportionate burden of climate impacts due to biological, socioeconomic, and cultural factors, being physiologically more vulnerable to thermal extremes, especially during pregnancy and the aging process. The climate crisis dramatically intensifies this scenario. Studies indicate that extreme temperature variations aggravate vasomotor symptoms, such as hot flashes and night sweats, impairing quality of life and mental health. In addition, extreme heat is associated with increased incidence and mortality from breast, ovarian, and uterine cancers. For pregnant women, the elevated thermal risk increases the chances of premature births and...

This article was exclusively written for The European Sting by Ms. Jasminy Musa Belotti Dessiyeh, a 19-year-old medical student at FACISB (Faculdade de Ciências da Saúde de Barretos), Brazil. She is affiliated with the International Federation of Medical Students Associations (IFMSA), cordial partner of The Sting. The opinions expressed in this piece belong strictly to the writer and do not necessarily reflect IFMSA’s view on the topic, nor The European Sting’s one. Climate change is intensifying water scarcity in regions such as Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, increasing the physical burden and directly impacting the health of women who are traditionally responsible for water collection. Longer droughts, higher temperatures, and increasingly distant water sources are contributing to increasing water scarcity worldwide. In these regions, these changes disproportionately affect women, who are expected to secure this essential resource for their households. On average, women walk between 3 to 6 miles daily to collect water, sometimes reaching up to 13 miles as sources become more distant due to climate-related changes. This task is often performed under extreme heat while carrying heavy loads, significantly increasing physical strain and exposure to health risks. The health consequences are substantial. Limited access to clean water is...

This article was exclusively written for The European Sting by Ms. Cecilia Petio, a medical student at the University of Bologna, Italy. She is affiliated with the International Federation of Medical Students Associations (IFMSA), cordial partner of The Sting. The opinions expressed in this piece belong strictly to the writer and do not necessarily reflect IFMSA’s view on the topic, nor The European Sting’s one. Climate Change and Women’s Health: A Call to Action for the Next Generation of Healthcare ProfessionalsClimate change is often discussed in terms of temperatures, storms, or economic loss. Yet its most profound consequence is often overlooked: its impact on women’s health. As future healthcare professionals, we must recognize this urgent issue—not only as doctors but as advocates for equity and resilience. Women, particularly in vulnerable communities, face disproportionate health risks from climate change due to biological, social, and structural factors. One of the clearest intersections lies in maternal and reproductive health. Exposure to extreme heat, air pollution, and climate-related disasters has been linked to preterm birth, low birth weight, hypertensive disorders, and stillbirth (WHO, 2023). Heat stress during pregnancy increases physiological strain, while air pollution contributes to complications for both mother and fetus. Climate change...

Měření tlaku, hladiny cholesterolu, informace k samovyšetření prsou nebo nácvik první pomoci. Možnost zdarma zjistit informace o svém zdravotním stavu měli lidé v Hradci Králové. Preventivní akci v jednom z obchodních domů pořádal Mezinárodní spolek mediků IFMSA.